The ferry journey is just a taste of what is hidden away within the extensive waterways that make up the Marlborough Sounds. The great news is that there are loads of ways you can get out onto or into the water to see it for yourself.

Organise your mates or family and hire a yacht or launch - bareboat or skippered, and sail or cruise the Marlborough Sounds. Gather your provisions before you board or plot your journey to moor in a bay where you can go ashore for lunch or dinner each day.

Explore the coastline by paddle power. Hire a kayak from either Picton or Anakiwa or join a guided one day to multi day sea kayak adventure. If you are taking the opportunity to stay overnight in the Marlborough Sounds you will find that many places have kayaks available for guests to use. There is nothing better than a pre-breakfast paddle to work up an appetite.

For something entirely different take a guided boating safari where you get to drive your own boat. It is easy to learn, even if you are a first timer, and loads of fun exploring the coastline while you enjoy the thrill of driving your own boat.

Grab your dive gear and head underwater, there are stunning kelp forests, loads of marine life, a marine reserve and some great wrecks including the 176m long Russian Cruise liner, Mikhail Lermontov to poke around.

If you are not a diver but want to get in amongst the marine life you can go swimming with Dolphins or Seals in the Marlborough Sounds. This is an amazing experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Now that’s a weeks worth of action without even touching on the land based activities in the Marlborough Sounds. So when are you coming to Marlborough to try it for yourself? Here is a great place to start planning your Marlborough holiday.